Introducing the 2025/2026 Committee:

President: Vie Leahy

Chairperson: Tom Barrett

Secretary: Cara Sheedy

Treasurer: Gary Loughnane

PRO: Lauren Barrett

Membership: Ann Marie Corbett and Jaymee Carrig

Patrons: and Sponsors: Gary Loughnane & Mary Smyth

Welfare Officer: Rachel McIntyre

Wishing this years committee every success for the coming season.

Shannon Musical Society are so excited to announce our 2026 show, the West End and Broadway Hit,

'Come From Away'.

Nominated for seven Tony Awards and nine Olivier Awards, 'Come From Away' is the story based on the events in the town of Gander, Canada, during the week of the 9/11 attacks. Approximately 7,000 passengers were forced to land at Gander Airport following the close of US Airspace. The characters and story are all based on true people and events.

Shannon will be taking the show to the next level by adding a vibrant chorus, with parts available for current members while also giving an opportunity for past members to get back on stage.

This is such a special show that inspires through its heartwarming, comedic and upbeat numbers. Our audience will see many close ties between our hometown of Shannon and Gander. Just like Gander, Shannon was also a diversion airport, and has a long history of community generosity and welcoming ‘come from aways’ with open arms and open hearts.

We hope you are as excited as we are and we look forward to the year ahead.

We will be announcing our Production Team very soon and keep an eye out for details of our Launch night and other events.

We look forward to working with this amazing team!

Also congratulations to our current members and nearby friends on their nominations;

Sally Fox for her nomination for Best Actress with ULMTS

Ethan Cassley, Conor McNelis, Cillian Fahy and Colm Hogan for their nomination for the Adjudicator’s Special Award with Muse Productions

Our Director Tony Finnegan for his nomination for Best Director for Legally Blonde with Ulster Operatic Company

Ennis Musical Society for Best House Management

Galway Musical Society, which included members Ethan Cassley and Martin McNelis, for their four nominations

👏

Roll on AIMS 💃 🕺

especially to Julita Fox, (Runner Up Best Comedienne) Anne Barnes and her Front of House Team (Runner Up Best House Management) Sally Fox (ULMTS Runner Up Best Actress) Ethan Cassley (Muse Productions, Special Adjudicator’s Award Winner, alongside Conor, Cillian & Colm).

We are so incredibly proud of our amazing team and can’t wait to get into the 25/26 season!

A special thank you to all our patrons and sponsors for the continued support year after year, especially our main sponsors EI Electronics and Shannon Springs Hotel.

Applications are not currently open but let’s get aquatinted with the first set of Characters from the small town, very similar to our own, Shannon.

Keep an eye on our socials for upcoming events and audition information!

Launch Night: Sunday September 21st

Audition Date: Saturday October 4th

Show Dates: February 15th-21st

Our final set of characters.

Applications are not currently open but let’s get aquatinted with the final set of Characters who have landed in the small town of Gander, very similar to our own, Shannon.

Keep an eye on our socials for upcoming events and audition information!

Launch Night: Sunday September 21st

Audition Date: Saturday October 4th

Show Dates: February 15th-21st

This will be a fun filled night hosted by James Sexton from Hiya Events where we will have an interactive table quiz accompanied by other games.

Be warned... you’ll be on your feet, singing, playing games and laughing all night long.

Bring a team of 5 - 10 people or we can form some on the night if required. Tickets are €15 a head and there will be optional donation opportunities throughout the night.

We hope to see past, present and future members alongside our devoted volunteers and many friends in the town and from neighbouring societies.

Looking forward to it,

SMS Committee

https://www.ticketsource.com/shannonmusicalsociety

Come and meet our director and get your hands on our application forms and audition material!

This is a great way to meet past and present members to get a feel of the society and ask any questions you may have.

We are so excited to get started on this production and hope to see many new faces as well as our past and present members.

Don’t forget, our many teams such as backstage, stage crew and front of house are always looking for new people to join the crew. Whether your interests lie on stage, props, makeup or the hustle and bustle of front of house, there is always a space for you!

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of our beloved Vie Leahy. A wonderful women so generous with her time, her humour and nurturing spirit.

Vie has been the beating heart of the society for many years. She has been part of every production since the society's inception, performing on stage, serving on numerous committees, making countless costumes and most recently holding the position of president. We will all miss her terribly.

We would like to express our sincere condolences to the Leahy and O’Brien family 🕊️

Please note that anyone interested in being part of our production, ensemble or principal, must apply using this form.

All applicants are required to participate in a dance workshop on Audition day, Saturday 4th October. If you cannot attend but still wish to apply, please email us at shannonmusicalauditions@gmail.com

https://forms.gle/a3uwy8M7FAYFCbtA9

We can’t wait to see you all at our launch night on September 21st 17:30 at Shannon Springs Hotel to meet our director. Physical Application Forms and Audition material will be available on the night ✨

Come From Away chronicles the real-life experiences of the people of Gander, Newfoundland, and the almost 7000 airline passengers who were forced to land there when US air space was closed on September 11, 2001. They tell the story of the Islanders and the “Come From Aways”, a beautiful telling of the profound generosity and compassion of strangers.

Shannon has a very unique connection to this show. Going back to 1945, Shannon airport welcomed their first commercial transatlantic flight from Gander, Newfoundland, the town where this show is set. Both towns played a big part during the event of 9/11, acting as diversion airports. They have an amazing history of welcoming “Come From Aways” with open arms, and encouraging everyone to get involved in the community.

There’s no denying the Irish History in Newfoundland. All you have to do is listen, and you will hear the distinct Irish accent mixed in, a result of the huge influx of immigrants in the early 19th century, half of the population of Newfoundland being from Ireland.

We are so excited to bring this remarkable true story to the stage in February.

Keep an eye out on our socials to keep up to date with upcoming events and how to get involved!

It had taken seven hours, forty-five minutes to fly from Gander, Newfoundland.

The first commercial trans - Atlantic flight landed on October 24th, 1945, and this was a DC4 of American Export Airlines.

This is just one of the amazing connections we have with Gander, the town where Come From Away is set.

Be sure to come along to our Launch night on Sunday in Shannon Springs Hotel at 17:30 to hear about some other connections and to get involved in our February production ✨

This will be a fun filled night hosted by James Sexton from Hiya Events where we will have an interactive table quiz accompanied by other games.

Be warned... you’ll be on your feet, singing, playing games and laughing all night long.

Tickets are €15 a head and there will be optional donation opportunities throughout the night.

We hope to see past, present and future members alongside our devoted volunteers and many friends in the town and from neighbouring societies.

Looking forward to it,

SMS Committee

https://www.ticketsource.com/shannonmusicalsociety

We’re thrilled to share with you our upcoming production, the heartwarming, internationally acclaimed musical COME FROM AWAY. It’s a beautiful story of compassion and connection, and we can’t wait to bring it to our stage, which will run from February 15th to the 21st 2026 in St. Patrick's Comprehensive School, Shannon.

By becoming a Patron, you’ll enjoy early access to tickets and play an important role in supporting the work we bring to the stage.

Your patronage helps make productions like COME FROM AWAY possible, and we would love to welcome you into our Patron community.

For more information, please feel free to send a message or contact a member of our committee.

Get yours now 🎟️

https://www.ticketsource.com/shannonmusicalsociety